So, I watched this episode last night and its plot holes and failed emotional ending couldn't be overlooked for me. It's probably the most overrated episode of Season 7 to be honest.

I mostly agree with you, Stephen (also totalnerduk). I rewatched it again not too long ago and it didn't do much better for me on second watch. I know people say you shouldn't focus on plot holes or things that don't make too much sense in an episode, but this episode always felt a bit lazily written for me and it really bothers me. They also try to go for that sappy ending at the end but it's not really built up well throughout the episode and just comes out of nowhere and still doesn't work for me. I also think this one doesn't deserve all the praise it gets either. Sure, the concept is great and there are some good jokes dotted around the episode, but I think even an 8/10 is pretty generous for this episode and consider it really overrated too.

The ending was "not really built up well throughout the episode?" Fry spent a great deal of screentime trying to have a moment with his mother again. And given that the whole damn episode was blurring the lines between dream and reality in the first place, the ending was the perfect way to bring the two together. The writing was just fine. It certainly wasn't up to the standard of, say, The Luck of the Fryrish, but as far as "poorly tacked-on sappy endings" go, Cold Warriors is still far and away the worst offender.

I think this episode was the send-off for the true fans of the show, whereas Meanwhile was the true finale. I say that because of how much fanservice was applied to this one; Things like the parody of the fan-favorite Nibbler stories, having a very long flashback to Fry's life, letting Fry's new friends interact with Fry's past associates, and giving us an emotional ending with Fry's mom, wrapping up the stories about each one of Fry's main family members (Fryrish, Roswell, Bark, Warriors, and this one) all make fans of the show get more of what many have wanted to see for some time. It's nice that they revisited or acted out these ideas, to give the series a more 'final' feeling. Do you guys agree?If this didn't make sense to you, sorry. What I'm trying to say is a little hard to put into words.

Game was great for those who aren't big fry/Leela shippers. It explored some more of Fry's family and past, and even got the PE crew into the mix. The fact that Fry is a man unexpectedly torn from his place in time isn't always treated seriously, but there would obviously be a lot of turmoil involved, and Game helps resolve that a little.

Zoidberg has been a chump, an outcast, and a good-natured loser for the entire series. He makes poor decisions, is incompetent and poor, he smells bad... I like that at the end of the series he finds true love with someone who doesn't think he smells awful. He deserves a happy ending.

I think the writers all had an understanding that it might really be the end this time for Futurama and they focused on giving the long-time fans some closure. These final episodes weren't laugh riots (though they certainly had their funny moments) instead they were to wrap things up. I feel like the series really has ended now, where earlier cancellations felt too soon.

It was the last ensemble episode, so it could be viewed as a goodbye to every character, such as Hermes, Amy, or the Professor (although Meanwhile did feature him in an important role), who didn't get his or her own send-off episode, while still having a regular plot.

I like that they made the last few episodes served as finales to specific characters or even ideas, as like you said, it made this really feel like the final season, where everyone gets a happy ending and it's all wrapped up in a nice bow.

So, I don't think we've really talked about how the Nibblonians (or at least, Nibbler) have the ability to place someone's subconscious into not only someone else's dream, but the dream of someone else who has been dead for over 1000 years. That seems pretty powerful to me, I wish they would have explained it a little more, but oh well.

I guess there's only so much you can explain in a 21 minute episode. On the other hand, I don't remember them ever explaining Nibbler's other ridiculous powers. Remember when he teleported out of the universe and came back a couple of movies later with no explanation? I remember being annoyed with that back in 2008.

Futurama is many things. Futurama is comedy. Futurama is science fiction. Futurama is satire. Futurama is adventure. Futurama might not succeed at every attempt in these fields, but one thing it always succeeds at is its few attempts to go emotional and pull on those heartstrings.

StoryYes, I cried. Just prior to the final scene, I was thinking that the episode was good but could have done more. And then on that final note, it did more than I could have ever imagined. Very, very touching.

The story was inspired and well-paced. I'm not sure what my favorite aspect of this story was. We got an adventure into the past. We got a dream episode. We got Fry interacting with his family. We got Fry's workmates interacting with his family! We got to revisit December 31, 1999. We got plenty of callbacks. We got good jokes. We got an emotional ending. We got a lot.

PlotThere were some plotholes in this episode, but I don't think they broke the episode in any way. The more ambitious a Futurama episode is, the more I wish we could see it produced as a movie instead -- and I mean a typical 90-180 minute film that is not designed to be broken up into four episodes. The worst part of the plot for me was that the audience was led to believe that Earth was in danger due to the previous planet's destruction, but the Nibblonian was simply looking for his car keys. Why would Digby destroy planets in order to find thousand year-old keys? What gives, eh?

Other than the nonsensical Nibblonian aspects, I really enjoyed this plot and the scenarios and interactions it provided. I loved how there were various audio cues that were modified by Fry's memory to slightly resemble the elusive tone. Very nice touch! I especially like that we got a deeper look into Fry's family life. It's more comedic to display the contempt, but it's profound to see Fry's past and what it really means to him (as well as what he really means to his family).

Maybe I do kind of miss this place. Maybe I just convinced myself I hated it 'cause I knew I could never come back.

FunnyThis wasn't the funniest episode, but it provided plenty of lines and visual cues that really entertained. None of the jokes seemed bad to me. The Shazam joke definitely wasn't great, but I don't understand all of the hatred for it.

My favorite line from this episode: Philip, have you lost weight? Mr. MacFarlane, you strike again!

CharactersEvery character was in-character, properly used, and at least somewhat involved in the plot. Other than Nixon, Agnew, and Digby (and a one-off joke from Randy), this episode did not need any extra characters to drive the plot. We had the Planet Express crew, Fry's family, and characters that filled roles in Fry's last night in the past. Everyone served a purpose and provided their appropriate humor.

Also, why was Nibbler running away from Seymour in Fry's parents' living room? Did Seymour try to mark his territory?

ClassicThis episode had the "classic feel." I love that we got to explore more of December 31, 1999, and we got to do so in a way that did not retcon anything. In fact, it was downright respectful to the established mythology.

Game of Tones was full of callbacks! Fry's relationships in the 20th century. Noticeably F.A.T. and the rest of the breakdancing crew. Fry's bored reactions to some of the events of his last night in the past (a nod to the fact that we've seen those events so many times now). Tricky Dick's love of Charleston Chews. Vergon 6. Bender's pleasure derived from transfering electricity.

VisualsAs always, this episode was a visual treat. Some of my favorite shots include the view from the bottom of Fry's laboratory bed as the Professor is preparing the Radio-Cranial Dream Injector and the establishing shot from above the Planet Express building with the building and ground cracking and owls flying upwards toward the camera. Futurama is art.

GripesThe aforementioned plotholes are my only gripe for this episode, and as I mentioned they don't really break the episode for me.

Where can I find the song at the end? I've searched it up on YouTube but all I get are covers... Unless the version in this episode was a cover by someone else? Or was it the original? Either way, where can I find the version that was used in this episode?

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